Kenya’s Bunge FC, Buoyant for the EALA trophy

Parliament of Kenya football team (In red jersey) before the encounter with Parliament of Uganda at the Sheikh Abeid Amri Stadium, Tanzania during the Inter-Parliament games on Wednesday afternoon. [Photo courtesy]

Kenya’s Bunge FC have set their eyes on the regional trophy after holding their arch-rival Parliament of Uganda in the ongoing inter-Parliamentary games in Arusha, Tanzania.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, who is the team’s captain, says his side will rest at nothing but the coveted trophy.

“Our game today against Uganda did not meet our expectations. However, after going down three, nil, we were excited to fight back for a draw. I am glad to have scored my first hat trick in the EAC inter- Parliamentary games,” he said.

Captain Senator Onesmus Murkomen on his part louded teamwork saying it has paid off to the home team adding that their eyes are set on taking the trophy from the ‘Museveni’s boys’.

“I am proud of my teammates in Bunge FC, the Kings of comeback,” Wrote on his Facebook account.

Kenyan side came from three goals down and equalized in an entertaining match. All the three goals were scored by the Hon. Murkomen, as he led his team to snatch the dominance from the reigning champions.

Parliament of Kenya are leading the log with four points with three goals. The reigning champions Uganda are second with two goals with one point at hand after two games.

Chances of defending champions Uganda football team retaining the trophy has continued to narrow after they drew with Kenya 3-3, in their 2 games played at Sheikh Abeid Stadium in Tanzania.

On Tuesday, the Parliament of Kenya overcame a faded EALA on Tuesday 1-0. On the other hand, Uganda were humbled by the Zanzibar team 1-2 in a match that was full of injuries.

Parliament of Uganda, are the reigning champions of the games having hosted the same in 2019 and the Ugandan Parliament emerged overall winners scooping the bragging rights for football, netball and basketball trophy for both men and women. EAC trails the group log after going down against the defending champions Uganda 1-2.

The Speaker of the Kenyan Senate, Kenneth Lusaka who is in Tanzania attending the Parliament Forum on EAC Affairs East African Business Council witnessed a thrilling match.

Also at the stadium to cheer the Kenyan team was George Sunguti, former Gor, AFC Leopard and Kenyan international defender. “When I arrived at the stadium, team Kenya was down by three goals.

I am now convinced that my arrival boosted the morale of ‘my boys’ and they leveled the score in no time!” said Lusaka.

In volleyball, the EALA team and the Parliament of Tanzania registered big wins. The EAC/EALA team turned tables on the Kenyan side and registered a three-set to two win over Kenya’s Bunge FC in a thriller men’s volleyball game today.

EALA scored 25-22, 25-16, 25-27 and 15-10. In a very tight affair game that was played on Thursday morning. In another match, Kenyan volleyball women's team fell to host Tanzania 3-0.

The two weeks, 11th Inter-Parliamentary Games tournament brings together participants from the six national parliaments, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the East Africa Legislative Assembly-EALA in Arusha at the Sheikh Abeid Amri Stadium.

Participating teams will battle for a total of 495 medals in eight disciplines. These include Football, Netball, Athletics, Tug-of-War, Volleyball, Walking race, Golf, Basketball and Darts. Also, Persons with Disabilities will participate in the games, mainly in darts, in the spirit of inclusion.